SEPTEMBER 30: 9:10 PM TUG OF WAR!

SEPTEMBER 30: 9:10 PM
TUG OF WAR!
Director: Nobuo Mizuta        Japan, 111 minutes
Starring: Yôko Asaji, Toshiki Ayata, Akiko Chûbachi

Chiaki Nishikawa (Mao Inoue), who works in the Public Relations Department of Oita City Hall, has a problem: Oita City has, in the past, been the women’s tug of war champion, and Chiaki is charged with  reviving this glory. There is little interest, as tug-of-war is not a prestigious sport; however, she hatches a plan.

When Chiaki starts to recruit members, she meets little success. Meanwhile, Chiaki’s mother, Yoko, is faced with the closure of her workplace, the school meal distribution center. In an attempt to reverse the decision, Yoko brings her workmates to City Hall to negotiate directly. Seeing this, Chiaki comes up with an idea. She makes a deal with the Mayor to recruit the school meal distribution center workers as Tug of War team members, on the promise that if the team makes it to the national finals, the decision to close the center will be revoked.

The members of the Tug of War Team are a motley cross section of Oita’s female population. Yoko’s best friend, Kazue, is always skipping practice to go on dates. Housewife Emi is struggling with a rebellious son. Reiko has a crush on a shop assistant in the pet shop. Mika has her plate full with compulsive eating and looking after her senile father. Kaoru is hooked on bicycle racing, and Saori can’t quit smoking.

While this is a comedy, it is a real glimpse at issues of personal attachment to the workplace and the pride one can find there.

THE TRAILER: